Some of those miserable, disgusting administrators who push senior teachers out actually do them a favor.I had a hard time letting go of the job I did for over 30 years. Teaching was my identity, it was who I was. I loved the excitement of the first day of school, meeting new students and reconnecting with old ones. The warm greetings and the hugs were something I thought I couldn't live without. I was wrong. If my hand hadn't been forced, I would have been in the school today, waiting on line for a cold bagel and a cup of coffee and listening to endless PD.
There are lots of ways administrators get teachers they don't want to leave. When they are teachers who are well liked, get good results and don't do things wrong, they have to use more subtle techniques. Programs are one of the things they use. They can, within the contract, give teachers multiple rooms, three preps they have never taught and sessions that are not convenient. They will do this even when it means other teachers will be hurt. They talk in innuendos about certain teachers but do it so well everyone in the room knows who is being discussed. When all else fails, they use the cold shoulder approach. No one likes being frozen out and marginalized.
There has been a lot of hype in the news lately about retaining irreplaceable teachers. While no teacher is irreplaceable, experience matters. Teaching is something learned on the job and I know I learned quite a bit from the educators I worked with. Today's young teachers won't have that opportunity.
I spent my second year of not having to report the first day:
1. Staying in bed late, listening to Z100 phone tap and checking e-mail.
2. Having a leisurely cup of coffee on patio with plenty of time to read the newspaper.
3. Visiting a museum and having lunch with friends.
4. Relaxing at home, on patio with a glass of wine and husband, blogging and watching tv.
5. Not being aggravated by Mr. AP's memos and words and a program I don't like.
Thank you, for making me so unhappy. Thank you for giving me the push I needed to get on with my life. Thank you for pushing me to see the benefits of my pension, the fruits of my labor for all those years.
